Amanpour: Dented Khamenei faces battle of wills

Despite his threats of "consequences" and the subsequent beatings and shooting deaths by government agents, the open protests on Iran’s streets by hundreds of thousands of people have dented the shield of invincibility of Iran’s Supreme religious Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, say sources in Iran. Chants of “Death to Khamenei” broke a state-imposed, and a self-imposed absolute prohibition on criticizing a leader believed to be wielding the wisdom and authority of God himself. But right now, the massive network of Iran’s intelligence agents, Revolutionary Guard, paramilitary Basij, and police of all sorts, are cracking down.

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More Than A Mall: Inside Dubai’s Growing Art Scene

The handful of squat and humble warehouses that comprises Dubai’s unofficial creative district bears little resemblance to the emirate’s legendary multi-billion dollar skyline. But in just three years, around 30 galleries and cultural institutions have set up in this dusty neighborhood. In the process, they have helped inspire private and governmental initiatives designed to alter the perception that Dubai is nothing but a characterless, globalized marketplace of vulgar shopping malls and exploited workers

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GM recalling 1.5 million cars over fire fears

The possibility of engine fires has prompted General Motors to recall nearly 1.5 million passenger sedans manufactured between 1997 and 2003, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration announced Monday. The recall covers certain mid- and full-size passenger sedans under GM’s Chevrolet, Buick, Oldsmobile and Pontiac brands.

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Match referee: We were sitting ducks

The match referee hailed as a hero for shielding a wounded colleague during an attack by gunmen on the Sri Lankan cricket team has criticized Pakistani security forces for failing to protect players and match officials. Chris Broad, a former England international, said he and colleagues had been left to be “sitting ducks” after the driver of the minivan in which they were traveling was killed in Tuesday’s ambush in Lahore.

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Spain: Ski chairlift cable breaks injuring 17

A chairlift cable broke at a ski resort in southern Spain on Monday, injuring 17 skiers, CNN partner station CNN+ reported. Monday’s commuters in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; New York; and Boston, Massachusetts, could face a nightmare with blowing and drifting snow, freezing temperatures, gusty winds and periods of sleet and freezing rain. The Northeast is expected to receive 5 to 15 inches of snow, forecasters said.

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